The next morning as the two girls were wiping breakfast dishes in a room adjoining the kitchen, a step was heard on the kitchen-floor, and the first that Mara knew she found herself lifted from the floor in the arms of a tall dark-eyed young man, who was kissing her just as if he had a right to. She knew it must be Moses, but it seemed strange as a dream, for all she had tried to imagine it beforehand. He kissed her over and over, and then holding her off at arm's length, said, "Why, Mara, you have grown to be a beauty!" "And what was she, I'd like to know, when you went away, Mr. Moses?" said Sally, who could not long keep out of a conversation. "She was handsome when you were only a great ugly boy." "Thank you, Miss Sally!" said Moses, making a profound bow. "Thank me for what?" said Sally, with a toss. "For your intimation that I am a handsome young man now," said Moses, sitting with his arm around Mara, and her hand in his. And in truth he was as handsome now for a man as he was in the promise of his early childhood. All the oafishness and surly awkwardness of the half-boy period was gone. His great black eyes were clear and confident: his dark hair clustering in short curls round his well-shaped head; his black lashes, and fine form, and a certain confident ease of manner, set him off to the greatest advantage. Mara felt a peculiar dreamy sense of strangeness at this brother who was not a brother,--this Moses so different from the one she had known. The very tone of his voice, which when he left had the uncertain cracked notes which indicate the unformed man, were now mellowed and settled. Mara regarded him shyly as he talked, blushed uneasily, and drew away from his arm around her, as if this handsome, self-confident young man were being too familiar. In fact, she made apology to go out into the other room to call Mrs. Pennel. Moses looked after her as she went with admiration. "What a little woman she has grown!" he said, naïvely. "And what did you expect she would grow?" said Sally. "You didn't expect to find her a girl in short clothes, did you?" "Not exactly, Miss Sally," said Moses, turning his attention to her; "and some other people are changed too." "Like enough," said Sally, carelessly. "I should think so, since somebody never spoke a word to one the Sunday he was at meeting." "Oh, you remember that, do you? On my word, Sally"-- "Miss Kittridge, if you please, sir," said Sally, turning round with the air of an empress. "Well, then, Miss Kittridge," said Moses, making a bow; "now let me finish my sentence. I never dreamed who you were." "Complimentary," said Sally, pouting. "Well, hear me through," said Moses; "you had grown so handsome, Miss Kittridge." "Oh! that indeed! I suppose you mean to say I was a fright when you left?" "Not at all--not at all," said Moses; "but handsome things may grow handsomer, you know." "I don't like flattery," said Sally. "I never flatter, Miss Kittridge," said Moses.